Having a baby is a huge life-changing event. You have no idea how you are going it feels when that baby arrives, and you have no idea how you are going to cope. There is only one thing that you know, and that is that things will never be the same again. As soon as that baby comes, your focus will be entirely on them. You will be thinking about them all the time, check that they are happy, warm, safe, and you will love them to the nth degree. When the baby is born, you are going to want things to be as smooth and as ready as they can possibly be. So, that means you need to start making preparations now. The good news is that there is a lot you can do to prepare before the due date. You may not be able to know how you will feel, but you can make the house as comfortable and clean with all the thighs you will need in it. To help you out, here are a few things that you should do to start preparing for that bundle of joy.
Start Saving
You are going to need money. So, it is imperative that you have a savings account. If you are in debt now, or are having money problems in any way, now is the time to get them sorted. The last thing you want to be worrying about when your baby comes is how you are going to pay this bill or the next bill. If you have really serious money problems, then you should see a financial advisor for help. Get your finances in a manageable order and benign brim them down. At the same time, you will need savings, so you will have to save up and build up a nest egg. You don’t realize how much you need until the baby comes. So, create a budget and learn to live within your means now, as this is going to pay dividends when the baby is here.
Declutter
You are going to need to clean out your house. You are going to need space for your baby and all the things that come with him or her. So, you need to throw away everything that is no longer needed. Rubbish, old furniture, anything at all. Why not put some things up online to sell and make some money out of them? The more space you can make, the easier it will be to manage. If your house is particularly cluttered, then you should start asap. If you have collections, then you may need to get over the emotional aspect you have with them to get rid of it all. Perhaps you should enlist the help of a professional to help you sever those bonds. The more you get rid of, the less stress you will feel. Additionally, less clutter makes the home easier to clean. You do not want excess dust or dirt flying about in a home with a baby. These things can lead a baby to develop things such as respiratory illnesses. So, you need a space that you can clean easily and keep clean.
Stock Up
It is a good idea to start stocking up on all the items you are going to need when the baby arrives. In fact, there are so many things that it may be a good idea to download or write a newborn baby checklist and start ticking the items off as you get them. There are going to be a lot of large items that you will only need to buy once, such as a Moses basket, a bassinet, a newborn baby stroller, a car seat, etc., So these only need to be bought once, obviously. If you are clever, you will start hunting all the second-hand marketplaces and trying to get these items as good as brand new at rock-bottom prices. You will see that things can soon start getting expensive if you are not wise with your spending. Once you have all the bulky items, start stocking up on all the things that will get used up. These things include baby wipes, get as many of these as you can store, muslin cloths, nappies, nappy bags, formula (even if you are going to breastfeed, it is wise to get at least one packet as you don’t know if you will be able to do it) baby creams, and ointments. Another thing to consider getting is food items. Tinned foods, long-life milk, anything that will last a few days after the baby comes. The last thing you or your partner are going to feel like doing is rushing off to the shop for a pint of milk.
Inform Your Other Children
It is important that you advise your other children if you have them. Any child over the age of three needs to be told what is happening. It is going to affect them; their lives are going to be altered almost as much as yours, so don’t hold back. Perhaps the best time to tell them is towards the end of the first trimester or early in the second. This is when you will probably start to show anyway. Ensure you tell them in a way that they will fully understand. Answer all their questions, and most of all, let them know that you will love them the same no matter what. You could start involving them in some of the decision-making, like which Moses basket to buy, or even start getting creative with them. Maybe you could make some things for the baby, and maybe even show them how to make a mobile for your new baby’s nursery. Why not investigate all the creative things that you can do with your children and make the new baby a fun experience for them? If you can make it a fun and exciting thing then it will be far easier to manage when the baby comes.
Be Good to Yourself
Having a baby will test you in a lot of ways. You will worry; that is natural. You will worry while you are pregnant, and you will worry when the baby comes. You need to be kind to yourself. Don’t beat yourself up about anything. As long as you are doing what’s right and what is best for your baby, then you are doing the right thing. Things are going to go wrong, to, but what happens afterward is what matters. There is no such thing as a perfect parent, no matter how many people make you think that there is. You need to practice a little self-care too. Don’t neglect yourself. Take ten minutes here and here if you need to. Your partner can watch the baby while you have that long hot bath or go for a jog. You are going to have mood swings, too, especially at the beginning. You are very likely to get the baby blues and feel very down at times. Most women get this. It may be a good idea to limit people coming to your house at that time. Perhaps it is wise to only see people when you are feeling better. The last thing you want is to upset someone while you are feeling down; some people do not understand that you may be feeling this way, so perhaps it is best to keep these people away while you get over it. Combine the baby blues with a lack of sleep, and it is clearly going to be an emotional time. The best thing you can do is be open and honest with your partner. Keeps the lines of communication open.
